Harp Seals and the Canadian Harp Seal Hunt

Harp Seals and the Canadian Harp Seal ‘Hunt’: Ecological and Humane Implications Harpseals. org All volunteer, non profit organization with one goal: To permanently end the annual Canadian harp seal slaughter

What is a Harp Seal? Sub order: Pinnipedia 3 Families of Pinnipeds: Eared Seals (Otariidae) True Seals (Phocidae) Walruses (Odobenidae)

Harp Seal Life Cycle Whitecoat Beater Ragged Jacket Adult

3 Harp Seal Populations White Sea West Ice Newfoundland & Labrador

Migration and Whelping Areas (Northwest Atlantic Population)

HARP SEAL DIET n n DO SEALS EAT NORTH ATLANTIC COD? STAPLES FOR THE SEALS: capelin, Arctic cod, polar cod and herring SEALS ALSO EAT: halibut, shrimp, small crabs, squid Only a few % of their diet is N. Atlantic cod

Canada’s Killing Fields The “Front” The “Gulf”

Harp Seals Killed in Canada Over the Years Year Killed 1965 234, 253 1977 155, 143 1989 65, 304 2001 226, 493 1966 323, 139 1978 161, 723 1990 60, 162 2002 312, 367 1967 334, 356 1979 160, 541 1991 52, 588 2003 289, 512 1968 192, 696 1980 169, 526 1992 68, 668 2004 365, 971 1969 288, 812 1981 202, 169 1992 27, 003 2005 329, 829 1970 257, 495 1982 166, 739 1994 61, 379 2006 354, 867 1971 23, 966 1983 57, 889 1995 65, 767 2007 224, 745 1972 129, 883 1984 31, 544 1996 242, 906 2008 217, 636 1973 123, 832 1985 19, 035 1997 264, 210 2009 74, 581 1974 147, 635 1986 25, 934 1998 282, 624 2010 67, 327 1975 174, 363 1987 46, 796 1999 244, 603 2011 37, 609 1976 165, 002 1988 94, 046 2000 92, 068

Canada’s Harp Seal Slaughter n. In most years since 2000, this has been the largest slaughter of marine mammals in the world n. Current quotas are as high as kill rates prior to 1971 when the population nearly collapsed and quotas were first established n. Over 2. 65 million baby seals were killed between 2000 and 2012 n. Official numbers do not include 'struck and lost' seals - those who were shot but slipped away to die later n. Seals are killed primarily for skins. Blubber is a much less valuable product that is sold as a nutritional supplement.

Seals & Cod – A History of the Controversy n 1497: John Cabot discovered abundant fishing grounds n 1500’s: Basques and Bretons killed large numbers of walruses on the Magdalen Islands n 1661: Francois Bissot granted fishing and sealing rights over Gulf of St. Lawrence n 1700’s: Sealing became an established activity among Canadiens and later, in Newfoundland n 1800’s: English and Irish immigrants arrived and established cod fishery n 1949: Newfoundland & Labrador joined Canada n 1950’s: Fishing fleets modernized--draggers and trawlers n 1977 -80’s: Exclusive Economic Zone established in Canadian waters n 1983: Europe banned “whitecoat” seal products n 1992: Atlantic cod fishery collapsed. DFO began blaming seals. n 1995: Scientists said there was no evidence for harp seals’ role in cod collapse n 1995 -2000: Seal hunt revived, subsidized by Canadian government. Killing increased. DFO continued to blame seals for cod population collapse. n Today: Newfoundland economy based on oil, seafood, newsprint, iron ore, electricity. Sealing: < 0. 02% of provincial economy

Cruel Massacre 95% of the slaughtered seals are pups 3 -12 weeks old. n Defenseless: in the Gulf, they haven’t learned to swim yet and can’t escape. n Sealers are allowed to club or shoot multiple seal pups before ensuring that each seal is dead. n Sealers aim at seals’ heads and usually don’t kill with the 1 st bullet. Sealers shoot again or club them to death. n Sealers hook and drag seals while they are still conscious. n 2001 veterinary study found up to 42% of seals were skinned alive. Current regulations to prevent this are not always followed. n

Reduction in Sea Ice Coverage in Gulf of St. Lawrence

Effects of Lack of Sea Ice on Seal Pups Mother and whitecoat pup on small ice pan Seal pup on broken sea ice Mike Hammill, DFO, 2007 HSUS 2007 Seal pup on Tignish Shore, PEI Photo Darlene Morrissey, 2011 Whitecoat pup struggles to get back on ice Reuters 2010

Canadian Government Position n Sustainable – 5. 8 million seals. “Almost triple what it was in the 1970’s. ” “Managed on socio-economic considerations until 70% population level is reached. ” “Managed with a precautionary approach. ” n Viable – “economically viable and not subsidized by the Fisheries and Oceans” n Humane– Royal Commission on Seals & Sealing said that the killing is comparable to hunting any other wildlife. An independent group of veterinarians reported that ~98% are killed in an “acceptably humane manner. ”

Europe Takes Action n European Union banned imports of all seal products (exception: seal skins obtained by Inuit) in 2009 n In 2011, Russia banned imports of seal products n n Russia was the destination for 95% of the seal pelts These bans essentially wiped out the market for seal skins

Why Does the Killing Continue? n No longer officially to help the cod population recover or reduce a seal population that is ‘too large’ n n Officially a MARKET-based ‘hunt’ n n n Extra income for fishermen (about 5%) Now that markets have dried up, NL is funding hunt 100% Newfoundland Politics n n But fishing industry promotes seal ‘hunt’ DFO minister usually comes from NL Tradition – Sealers’ ‘Pride’

Strategy to Stop the Slaughter Canadian Seafood Boycott n Objective: Force the Canadian fishing industry to stop the killing by making them pay a severe financial penalty n The Canadian seafood industry generates $5 billion dollars annually for the Canadian economy n 65 -70% of their seafood is exported to the United States n Seal pelts typically generate $1 -7 million dollars annually; however, in 2012, NL taxpayers footed the bill n Over 5, 500 businesses and 750, 000 individuals have pledged to avoid some or all Canadian seafood. This includes Legal Sea Foods, Whole Foods Markets, Trader Joe’s and many others

Main Opposition Groups n n n HARPSEALS. ORG (only group focused on harp seal slaughter) Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Animal Alliance of Canada Atlantic Canadian Anti-Sealing Coalition People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

How YOU Can Help n Support the Canadian Seafood Boycott n Start or join a group of activists and organize public awareness events. Spread the word. n Join Harpseals. org – Sign up for e-newsletters and join us on Facebook n Organize fundraisers n Donate (for billboards, radio spots, TV spots, etc) n Write letters to the Canadian Government and Darden Corp. (Red Lobster Restaurants). Visit our Letters & Emails web page

Take Action - Join Us! Harpseals. org Thank You